I wanted to post this as a safety heads up for those of us tend to throw batteries in drawer or trash with out store 9 volt batteries in our RV's.We had an insurance claims adjuster come to Rotary Club and he talked to us about the 9 volt battery safety hazard. He put a piece of paper on the table, set some steel wool on it and dropped a battery on the wool. The wool became red hot with the electric current, then the paper flashed up. Put electric tape over the used ones before you throw them into the trash!!! and keep the unused ones in the plastic containers until you need them. Has anyone else heard of this?

Yes, it's a very very old trick to getting a fire to start when you're camping or in an emergency situation.WoodGlue

It's a pretty well-known fire-starting technique among the emergency preparedness community...I learned it in USAF survival school. Lots of videos here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=9v%20fire&sm=3I've had a 9V battery in my pocket with a bunch of change one time, and all the change got hot...had to move the battery to the other pocket.

Steel wool and batteries is a great PLAN B fire starter for camping off the power grid...Roy ken

When going to DD's college graduation, I took the camera, and put 4 extra AA batteries in my pocket. The same pocket with all my change and keys. About 30 minutes into the ceremony, I thought my pants caught fire. I mean my leg was BURNT! I got those batteries out of my pocket REAL fast. It didn't blister, but the skin was red for the rest of the day.

Humm, I knew this too but, had forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me I'm going to go look in my battery drawer right now and tape up the ends.

Safety issue 9 volt Batteries | Good Sam Community

Sloop_Smitten
Explorer
Jan 22, 2014
Was carrying a 9V battery in my pocket one time along with a pocket full of change. The feeling that someone was holding a branding iron on my thigh convinced me it was not a good idea!
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Jan 22, 2014
mlts22 wrote:
When I was in college in the early '90s, I remember a university in a nearby state having a very unofficial, alcohol-inspired battery swallowing contest. Every participant had to go to the ER and be operated on, since the D cells were not going anywhere.

And this was at a university? And, these are suppose to be the smart kids that get into a university? Boy, I did a lot of things in my youth that I would not do now but, no matter how drunk I got I never did anything like that. Maybe were sending the wrong people to school. :S
Tachdriver
Explorer
Jan 22, 2014
mlts22 wrote:
When I was in college in the early '90s, I remember a university in a nearby state having a very unofficial, alcohol-inspired battery swallowing contest. Every participant had to go to the ER and be operated on, since the D cells were not going anywhere.

It is best to stick with gold fish :B
mlts22
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014
When I was in college in the early '90s, I remember a university in a nearby state having a very unofficial, alcohol-inspired battery swallowing contest. Every participant had to go to the ER and be operated on, since the D cells were not going anywhere.
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014
Next thing you know we are going to hear about the horrors of licking batteries. :B
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014
Used to light cigarettes that way from 6 volt lantern batteries in the navy.
mbopp
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014
And an FYI - a 9V battery and loaded ammunition in your pocket is also a bad combination.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014
A toilet paper cardboard roll can be taped closed on the ends with batteries inside and tossed in a drawer. Even better, take that roll in a zip lock bag with a dessicant pack (of the Do Not Eat variety in many items today) and they will not corrode or stain your drawer.

For long term/emergency prepping, stack a bunch of rolls vertically in a plastic coffee can and label with black marker. In this case, pack on a cool, dry day.

Good tip and warning, thanks.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 21, 2014
I always tape over all my dead dry cells.. And every once in a while I take about a gallon of 'em to Batteries Plus and send them to the reycler.

Sometimes on the AAA's and always on the AAAA's instead of tape I use glue (GOOP to be specific) to insulate them, sticks better but on the larger ones Tape works.

NOTE: Steel wool in that demo was a bit like cheating,, but the danger is real. The battery itself can get hot enough if it comes in contact with say a table knife.
Just_Jeff
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014
If you plan to use this as a backup firestarter, just be sure to get the steel wool WITHOUT the soap already on it. Plain steel wool conducts best.

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